Talking Tree Creativehttps://www.talkingtreecreative.com
Tue, 18 Dec 2018 21:23:12 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.8109663570THAT’S WHAT MAKES YOU(r event) BEAUTIFUL – Event Design Starter Packhttps://www.talkingtreecreative.com/blog/event-planning/thats-what-makes-your-event-beautiful/
Tue, 18 Dec 2018 18:25:12 +0000https://www.talkingtreecreative.com/?p=2143When you’re inside a well-designed room, you know it. It all works. Every element at play is literally at play. Everything has a purpose and is working together to tip off the receptors in your brain that make you go: And when elements in a room are not cohesive, you know that too. The science of aesthetics is fragile, and one wrong step can flip your event from feeling like a mystical universe of endless possibilities to stepping inside... Read More

]]>When you’re inside a well-designed room, you know it. It all works. Every element at play is literally at play. Everything has a purpose and is working together to tip off the receptors in your brain that make you go:

And when elements in a room are not cohesive, you know that too. The science of aesthetics is fragile, and one wrong step can flip your event from feeling like a mystical universe of endless possibilities to stepping inside your crazy aunt’s house where none of the decorations go together and there are just so many cats. Nothing makes sense there.

Planning an event is daunting as hell – we understand. And design is its own animal. It’s that extra oomph that ties the content and context together to make actual, Harry Potter-level magic.

Harry Potter didn’t walk into Hogwarts day 1, pick up a wand, poke Voldemort in the eye and call it a day! We had seven books worth of trial and error and horcruxes. Bottom line – you’ll have to do your homework if you want to be a design master.

Whether you have to tackle the design on your own, or you hire a team, it’s good to know the main pillars of aesthetic design. Without them, you’re basically at the swim meet with no arms or legs. It won’t go well.

Now, we’re not about to let you drown. Event design is a lot easier to wrap your brain around if you break it down into the fundamental elements:

Light

This element alone can define your mood. The difference between warm and cool lighting is enough to change the genre of a movie. Lighting design can be like that rabbit hole you fall into every time you search on YouTube. Four hours later and you’re perfecting acrylic strokes with Bob Ross. It’s a deep subject, so we’ll hit the basics.

Use lighting to illustrate your atmosphere. What mood do you want to convey? Are you using natural lighting or creating a “special effects” informed atmosphere? You can be very basic with your lighting design, or it can literally transform the event space. Light can spill into almost all of the following categories. It can create color, shapes, emphasize texture, etc.

Color

Think of the color wheel as the psychological vein that marbles your venue space. Event designers will choose a palate that subtly evokes emotion to fit the intended theme. A lot of set designers start with all white props and then “wash” them in colors that match the mood. Washing white elements with colored lighting also allows you the flexibility to assign different color combinations to different portions of your show.

Shape

When you walk into a well-orchestrated space, your eye doesn’t automatically dissect the individual components of the room. You don’t step inside and think “Wow, just look at those vertical lines over there dissecting the visual weight of the big round tables!” An untrained eye sees the result of smart shape work – the work of art rather than the elements alone.

The designer, however, uses all different shapes to create movement or visual weight in the room. When it comes to shapes, you’re creating visual effects by manipulating the size, color, continuity, and variety of the forms.

3D

It’s anything that’s not flat. Duh.

Flat is boring and static. Adding an element of 3D gives your set or venue dimensionality and depth of field. The more objects you add on top of a flat background, the deeper and more dynamic your created world becomes.

Texture (visual)

Using your elements to create visual texture is another effective way to make your atmosphere more exciting. Think about including sharp, clean-cut surfaces and mixing it up with soft, billowy drapery to give the audience some variety as their eyes move about the venue.

Texture (Physical)

Take advantage of an often neglected sense – touch. This can get as weird as a trampoline floor, or be as basic as a soft rug. When you invite your audience to touch, you’re opening another line of communication. This is an intimate opportunity for people to engage with your brand in a completely unique and specific way. And they’re more likely to remember it.

I went on a five-day family trip to Seattle when I was 14. We saw the space needle and rode big whale-watching barges, but the most explicit memory I encoded on that trip was pressing my hand against a big ice wall at a popup Titanic museum. Weird, but true. This was a brilliant call on the designer’s part. That ice wall brought a physical experience into a storytelling exhibit which imparted on me, a visceral memory. Lost a pair of shoes this weekend, but I’ll never forget putting my hand on the iceberg that sank the Titanic.

Space

Empty space. It’s so simple….

Gives your eyes a break and directs attention to where you really want it.

Alone, these elements are a lot less intimidating. The trick is the use of the elements. It’s putting them to work – executing the aesthetics in a way that creates a one-of-a-kind experience. We do this by incorporating principles of art and design, and applying them to the elements so they come together to form a mood. Here are some of the big ones that make a serious impact on overall design:

Balance/Proportion

Use different sizes of your shapes and empty spaces to create balance or skew normal proportions. A large object offsets and balances a series of smaller shapes. Your key should be to distribute elements in an aesthetically pleasing way. For example, break up long lines with softer shapes, or jazz up a plain flat surface with some live greenery… 3-D element: check, pop of color: check!

Emphasis

Use the elements to visually direct attendees. You could try utilizing empty space to guide your audiences’ attention to parts of the design you want to show off. Introduce a color outside your scheme for the rest of the venue if you really want to draw attention. You want the focal point to stand out like the ugly duckling – but after it turns into a swan. Give it something the rest of the design elements don’t have. If you’ve got all rounded shapes, give your duckling sharp edges.

Repetition

This is a big one when it comes to creating a sense of harmony and unity throughout the venue. Repeat shapes and key colors so your elements read like members of one family.

The cool thing about design is that you can be creative in your execution of the elements. Try different things and create something completely different! The possibilities are endless – as long as you don’t take inspiration from the crazy aunt with the cats.

Watch every element come to life when you plan your event with TalkingTree!

So you’re planning a live event, and it’s time to bring in the big guns; the production team. This is Part-Four of our Event Planning Survival Guide, where we make sure you sound like you know what you’re talking about when you sit down with the production company.

Even if you hire an agency to help plan your event, you still need to have a strong understanding of the logistics involved and the ways in which those details impact the workflow. If you’re planning the event on your own, then you really need to know this stuff.

CBS – The Big Bang Theory

This is your event. You should know what you want. The team you hire is there to make that event come to life, but you need to have a vision. Provide some groundwork that your producers can use to create the event you’ve imagined.

We put together a list you can use to build that foundation and give your creative team/production team a framework for planning.

Event Prep For Dummies: What to Know Before Meeting With Producers

You’ll talk with your producers and decide on some things together, but other details should be predetermined. Here’s what you’ll need to know if you want your creative team to think, “Finally, someone who has their sh*t together!”

Message

If you’ve been following our series, you know you should have nailed down your message by now. Be able to rattle off your mission statement, company culture, key personnel, and event objectives so your production team can begin to frame the event around these items. Basically, your theme and those key points should be burned so deep into your brain that your significant other wonders why you’re talking business in bed.

Audience Demographics

Be ready to describe your audience in detail to your team. Think of yourself as a private investigator and your team is the cheated party. They’re going to want to know everything, so put on your Hardy Boys hat and spill the dirt: gender, age, occupation, interests, etc.

Vehicles

Pick one or many vehicles to deliver your message.

The Hanover 2 – Warner Bros.

Not that vehicle. Forget what it means? Reacquaint yourselves. Maybe a video is the best way to share certain information, while a speaker makes more sense for other aspects of the message. Do you want to present some statistics in a badass infographic? Figure it out.

Details: From Simple to Sherlock-Level

By now, you have the date(s) and time of the event settled. You should also have the venue picked out. Make sure you’ve got all the specific details covered:

Venue, room name(s)

Floor-plans and/or size and specs of the room(s)

Power access

Seating capacity

Access dates & times

Inkawall.com

Provide a list of all planned or possible logistical details for the day of the event:

Plans for registration

Plans for meal, snacks, and drink service

Additional services (photo booths, concessions, etc)

Add to the list as needed, but now you’ve covered your bases, and you’re on your way toward planning a kick-ass event that all of your coworkers will wish they had initiated. You’re all done! Go you!

NOT!!

Okay, I’m going to let you in on a little secret, you know how there are all these intricate moving parts to big events that the lighting, audio, projection, staging, and production people just magically take care of? Yeah, that’s a myth.

All of those small details have to be meticulously planned based on the information you provide! Believe it or not, every tiny component of the event – from a few extra attendees to the order of the award ceremony – affect your producer’s attack plan.

Here’s an example:

You: I want to incorporate video into the event.

Producer: Oh, okay! So if you want to play video on-screen then we need to know if this video has already been created. If so, what’s the aspect ratio? Based on the room and audience size we can suggest suitable screen sizes, quantities and layouts. But what’s right for you depends on your budget. Did you want to incorporate live video? Then, we need to make sure the subjects are lit appropriately. You’re also going to need a switcher so our team can flawlessly switch between prerecorded video, the on-stage camera feed, and any additional graphics that will be displayed. What’s your budget again?

You:

Awkward – MTV

Yeah, it’s a lot. Your producer is going to ask a ton of questions, and the answers you provide will set off a sequence of actions that essentially craft the entire event. So, just to give you a little perspective, here’s why the questions your team ask are super important:

Every seemingly simple question your producer asks you triggers a web of smaller moving parts. Events are a big deal, and the more energy you invest in the details, the closer the event comes to the image in your head!

See all the details come together when you plan your event with TalkingTree!

Is it time to break it off with your current event partner? Look, we get it break-ups are hard! Going out on the prowl is exhausting. First meetings can be the worst! But there’s plenty of fish in the sea and when you find the one, it’s all worth it. There’s a producer out there looking for their next long-term relationship, and who knows, maybe it’s a match made in heaven!

Has my relationship run its course?

Everybody knows the big bads when it comes to red flags: event planning loses that magical feeling, or it becomes all about them in the conference room. But what about the less obvious reasons to kick your partner to the curb? When you’re comfortable, but there’s just something missing and you can’t nail down the problem.

Let’s take a look at a scenario that’s super common in the event planning industry. You find a great event agency, and they give you everything you could ever ask for! Years and years, they produce events that exceed your expectations. Then the events just meet your expectations. In fact, the events have become so predictable, you could probably write the script yourself, but hey, you’re comfortable! You let it go until it’s three years later and the honeymoon is SO OVER. You start thinking things like:

“What else is out there?”

“When’s the last time I’ve taken a risk with event planning?”

“My producer just doesn’t surprise me anymore…”

Disney – High School Musical

Consistent or Stagnant?

Hey, I get it. You’re comfortable, why risk losing something you can depend on? There’s nothing wrong with having a producer that gets you. It’s good to know you can rely on them to get the job done and to be there when you need them, but are they consistent or are they stale?

Consistency is coming through with a solid plan every time. Stagnancy is a plan that you can literally recite after five events together. If you bake a cake and serve a piece on a different plate each day, are they different pieces of cake? No, they’re moldy as all hell. They’re stale. That cake tastes the same day after day, and everyone’s sick of it.

A consistent event plan has strong bones. There’s always a message, a theme, a story, a great venue. But the details should be innovative, they should take risks! It’s time to ask yourself: Am I eating moldy cake?

Just Haven’t Met You Yet

Before you go out on the prowl, it’s time to re-evaluate your expectations for a partner. As much as your last agency may have let you down, it takes two to tango and you probably made some mistakes that led you to that dead-end relationship. Maybe you let things get boring. You stopped challenging each other. Were you accepting mediocracy?

It’s time to do some soul-searching. You deserve the best! But how do you know you’re getting the real deal? How do you know when a producer or agency is the one? You’re going to be going on a lot of first meetings to find them, and there’s plenty to gather from that first impression. We put together a list of qualities to look for in your next event producer so you don’t end up sitting alone on Valentine’s day crying into a bag of chips and watching The One Where Ross and Rachel Break Up on repeat.

Friends – NBC

Or – well, you know, planning your next event without a solid event producer.

Still on the fence about breaking up with your current event producer? The next time you sit down for a meeting with your agency, be on the look-out for these 9 relationship-material qualities. If they check these boxes, then put a ring on it. If not, kick them to the curb!

1. The producer comes in ready to listen.

They are interested in and absorbing what you say. No more relationships that make you feel like you’re talking to a wall. A good producer knows they need to navigate the personalities of the event participants and the client in order to plan an event that satisfies your goals.

2. They’ve got more on their mind than ‘that one thing’

A good partner wants the whole package. They want to work together with you to create something incredible. A subpar producer just wants a paycheck. They’re not going to take the time to get to know you or your company, and they’ll more than likely produce a less-than-mindblowing event. Here’s why:

Without gathering vital information from you, they’ll deliver a uniform, run-of-the-mill event. You may as well just hire a production team and tell them to do whatever. You pay a creative agent top dollar because they turn your event into an unforgettable, profitable experience for your audience.

3. They ask so many questions that you start to get a stalker vibe.

They ask for your organization’s story in order to craft a message-driven event. Give me all the diamonds and cars, but if there’s no message behind it all, forget it! The message is what stays with your attendees after the event. If you embed the story well enough into the experience, the audience will leave feeling emotionally connected to your brand.

Speaking of audience, your producer needs to get to know them. If they’re not talking demographics, expectations, interests, socioeconomic status, if you don’t feel like you’re talking to a PI, shut it down!

4. #Goals

The Office – NBC

Good producers use the information you give to help you define the goals of the event. They have digested your information about your audience and message and they create a space where you feel comfortable bringing your ideas to the table. A successful working relationship between you and the creative agency brings out the best from both parties and produces unique goals that you define together.

5. They don’t use cookie-cutters

They are molding a custom experience according to your needs, goals, and vision. They build a bridge between the idea and the execution by using a system that is reliable enough to depend on, but malleable for every unique event. They work with you to develop a plan that is so engineered to your specific needs, it feels like a lovechild between you and your agent. (But one you don’t have to feel guilty about!)

6. They’ve got all the hook-ups…

Their little black book is filled with trusted partners who also have standalone stellar reputations among industry professionals. The right lighting directors, audio engineers, and decor partners are both the brains and brawn behind a successfully engineered and implemented experience.

7. There’s passion in their eyes

They describe your event as an experience. They’re not just selling you on a product, whether it be the lighting, special effects, sound, etc. If you don’t feel inspired by the way this producer talks about your event, then you can bet your audience won’t feel much either.

8. They paint your vision

By writing an event that takes your vision and translates it into a realistic script. Your next agent should be able to put your dreams into action and give you the event you always wanted. Nothing like your last events – Mister-overpriced-and-underwhelming, or Miss-never-asked-about-your-audience.

9. You feel comfortable letting them take the wheel

Because your agency feels like an extension of your brand. They understand your needs and they see through the lens of your business. You are part of a partnership.

So, does your agency measure up? Are they the one, or is it time to break it off?

Do You, the Audience, Take the Message, to have and remember long after this corporate event?

So, your company is planning a major live event and you’re the lucky person picked to spearhead the efforts. Fear not – we’ve got your back. Welcome to part-two of TalkingTree’s Declassified Event Survival Guide – your go-to source for all things event planning-related. This installment is all about the message and the audience – a power couple.

Back to you, person-in-charge-of-pulling-this-off, you’ve got a lot on your plate.

Credit: That’s So Raven – Disney

Big Scary Event Production Checklist:

Determine the message your company needs to impart

Learn everything there is to know about your audience. From coffee preference to worst fear to romantic history… It’s not stalking if it’s for a good cause!

Locate the right venue where your theme and message can live happily and do their jobs

Hire the right creative producers who will help you turn your vision into a reality by designing an event that delivers your theme and message to your audience in the smartest possible way.

Find the production professionals who have the moxie to pull it off (extra points if it’s in-budget).

Okay, so the first bullet point is the message. Every successful campaign – political, social, commercial or otherwise, has a message. It’s the ultimate mantra you want to drive home. Event producers will use a slogan and a vehicle (videos, lighting, environment branding, and other theatrical methods) that delivers the campaign’s message into the heart, mind, and memory of every attendee.

Say it So it Sticks

You want your theme to represent your message. That doesn’t mean trying to jam every little detail into your slogan. A strong message expresses the good stuff – the meat of the event – and does so artfully and memorably.

If I were at an event and opened my itinerary to read, “Maximizing market penetration in a global economy,” I would develop narcolepsy on the spot. That title might describe exactly what the speaker is talking about, but as a theme, it’s dry as dirt.

Use your theme as a way to grab peoples’ attention and make them want to know the message behind it. Something more like “The World is Waiting” puts the topic of your event on a larger scale and inspires action. Don’t believe us? Go ahead, stick to your academic verbiage, but make sure the seats in your venue are equipped with pillows.

The bottom line is, take some time to develop a theme that has some spice, some flair. A Mexican rice theme! No, but you get it. A great theme doesn’t just get people to the event, it provides a framework to tell a story. A great theme produces followers.

Maximize Audience Engagement

Notice there were no jokes in that header…that’s because this is no laughing matter. This is some serious shit! You can throw the most elaborate event together, and if you don’t connect to your audience, you’re done for.

With a little research and extra planning, you can make your audience feel like you’re talking to them as individuals. They’ll relate to their surroundings so they’ll learn more, they’ll interact, and that’s a recipe for repeat attendees.

Are you speaking to factory workers or molecular biologists? Tailor your tone to your demographic. If you’ve got a bunch of millennials, incorporate social media. Make sure there’s an Instagram-able moment. Conduct twitter polls that you can display on screens. (Pro tip: you can also use polls to feel out audience satisfaction)

Eventbrite Poll: Would you consider purchasing VIP and/or bottle service at a New Year’s Eve event?

Also, possibly the most important step to establishing a rapport is to let your audience know you did your research. There’s this guy, you may know him – long beard, wise… Well, he said that if you want your audience to listen to you, you’ve got to prove your credibility by expressing your goodwill toward their interests. Let them know you have the solution to their problems.

Did you guess Aristotle? It was Aristotle. Guy knew how to engage an audience.

Finding the Right Environment For Your Theme

Is your theme warm-blooded or cold? Does it perform best under a heat lamp, in a warm and dry habitat? Maybe your theme is an iguana, I don’t know, it’s your theme.

The theme you choose will set the tone for the entire event starting with scripting the event so you can tell your story in a way that deeply impacts your audience. Then you’ll choose the vehicles to present your message. You’ll decide on graphics, lighting, decor, and more to build the environment where your story thrives. Those decisions lead you to production technologies and staging techniques that will maximize communication to your audience. The event venue should also reflect the theme and is a great opportunity to get creative with the way you use the sense of place to deliver your message.

Military contractors might want to roll out a new product in an aircraft hangar or onboard a de-commissioned plane. A farm equipment manufacturer might glamify a barn to accommodate their event. Whatever you choose for your venue, it’s up to you to communicate your vision clearly and completely, so your contractors fully comprehend how they’ll need in order to marry that space to your theme.

Find the right environment for youriguana story with TalkingTree Creative!

Ready to share your story? TalkingTree Creative is your premier guide to brand strategy, event planning, video production, virtual reality, and live entertainment. With help from our production experts, you can elevate your message and convert your audience to fans by transforming your next event into a fully engaging, memorable experience. We are located in the Baltimore-Washington Metro area, and we accommodate the needs of businesses and organizations worldwide! Get in touch with us today at 240-252-1200 or 202-684-2225 and let’s start a conversation. Find out what we’re up to on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest.

]]>2027How to Host an Event that Doesn’t Suckhttps://www.talkingtreecreative.com/blog/event-production/how-to-host-an-event-that-doesnt-suck/
Fri, 16 Nov 2018 17:15:14 +0000https://www.talkingtreecreative.com/?p=2018Why do in-person, live events remain so popular in the corporate landscape? Get the 411 of event planning and production with insider information from industry pros. This is part one of TTC's Declassifed Event Survival Guide.

Michael Scott said it best when he reminded us of the timeless value of in-person interaction in business. He also drove his car into a lake in solidarity against technology, so we don’t have to follow his strategy exactly, but he’s right about the power of face-time with a client.

Regardless of industry, we’re all looking for ways to capitalize on meaningful correspondence with clients, customers, suppliers, employees, and partners. That intimate connection is the driving force behind trade shows, sales meetings, conventions and so on. And there’s a reason these events are popular – they bring you and your event attendees together in ways that email blasts and print ads can’t.

Whether it’s an extravagant awards ceremony or a kitschy picnic fundraiser, the point is to engage your audience in ways that help them internalize your company’s message.

Complete the Captcha to Prove You’re Human

When you think about Google or Amazon, do you picture the individuals working there? The human people with cats and houseplants? No, you see the brand – the corporation as a standalone “thing.” It’s hard to relate to a search bar.

When you’re part of a large company, it’s easy for your clients to see it as one big machine rather than a living, evolving, empathetic entity. Live events are your chance to introduce prospective customers to the brains and humanity behind your brand.

Credit: The Office NBC

You want your attendees to leave the event with an intimate peek into the processes and people that make you better than your competition. How? You make them feel like they’ve connected to your brand on a level that fosters trust and inspires action.

You know that one friend that can always rouse you and inspire you to finally sign up for yoga? Or start your own lotion line? You have one great conversation with them and you feel like you can take on the world.

A live event should feel like hanging out with that friend. Your attendees should be compelled to act because they feel like you know them and you know what they need. A successful live event isn’t one-sided. It’s interactive – it can act as the catalyst to strike a lasting relationship with clientele. At its best, it is the beating heart that brings your company to life.

The First Rule of Event Hosting…

…is you do not talk about event hosting. Just kidding. But there are rules. Kind of.

The decision to produce a live event is only step one of a lengthy and arduous process, and although they’ve become a popular vehicle for communication, the fact is, a lot of events fail to deliver. They miss the mark, they don’t land with the audience, or… well, they could suck for a lot of reasons.

Event production is a science. And an art, and a business. There are tricks to the trade. In this series, we’ll give you our secrets to success in bite-size pieces that will give you the tools get the most out of your investment.

You know when you get to a meeting and you’re just sitting there, nodding along like you’re totally on the same page, when in reality you don’t have a clue what’s going on because you did zero prep work?

Credit: Friends NBC

Don’t be that guy.

Look, you don’t have to be an industry professional to host a kick-ass event. But you owe it to your checkbook to read-up and know your way around a great event. Then, when you do hire an agency, you’ll not only know what the heck is going on, but you’ll be an active participant in the production process.

Engage your audience with TalkingTree Creative!

Ready to share your story? TalkingTree Creative is your premier guide to brand strategy, event planning, video production, virtual reality, and live entertainment. With help from our production experts, you can elevate your message and convert your audience to fans by transforming your next event into a fully engaging, memorable experience. We are located in the Baltimore-Washington Metro area, and we accommodate the needs of businesses and organizations worldwide! Get in touch with us today at 240-252-1200 or 202-684-2225 and let’s start a conversation. Find out what we’re up to on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest.

]]>20184 Reasons Why Events are Your Most Important Marketing Tool [Updated Research]https://www.talkingtreecreative.com/blog/event-production/4-reasons-events-important-marketing-tool/
Sun, 23 Sep 2018 17:56:39 +0000http://live-talking-tree-creative.pantheonsite.io/?p=950According to The Content Marketing Institute’s 2018 Benchmarks, Budgets and Trends, 56% of respondents use in-person events as a top marketing tactic, even above digital advertising and email marketing. 80% of marketers believe live events are critical to their company’s success, according to another report. The event marketing trend is clearly an effective strategy that isn’t bucking anytime soon, and it shouldn’t be surprising. What is event marketing? Event marketing is a marketing tactic that... Read More

Events should be your biggest priority when it comes to developing an effective marketing strategy.

According to The Content Marketing Institute’s 2018 Benchmarks, Budgets and Trends, 56% of respondents use in-person events as a top marketing tactic, even above digital advertising and email marketing. 80% of marketers believe live events are critical to their company’s success, according to another report. The event marketing trend is clearly an effective strategy that isn’t bucking anytime soon, and it shouldn’t be surprising.

What is event marketing?

Event marketing is a marketing tactic that involves exhibits, displays, presentations or gatherings to showcase your company’s product, services or causes. Today, events can be hosted in-person or online thanks to live streaming capabilities.

Real-life experiences are more engaging and can shape our memories much more profoundly than anything else. Live events are deeply experiential by nature—something everyone (especially millennials) seek from an organization. If event marketing isn’t already part of your overall marketing toolbox, here are just a few reasons why you should consider adding it.

Why are events the most important marketing tool?

Consumers today are looking for specific products or services. With so many options, it can be difficult to cut through the clutter. An event facilitates face-to-face discussion with your consumers, helping them to establish a much more personal and intimate relationship with your brand than what is possible in the digital space.

Speaking of brands, events do a ton to generate brand recognition. As many as 8 out of 10 people who take part in a marketing event pass that experience on to someone else, making your brand much more accessible to your target audience.

Events are a cost effective way to roll out new products or services. You can get buy-in on a new product much quicker when you have a live, captive audience to showcase it to. And it can come in at a much lower cost than going through traditional media.

With an event, you can generate feedback almost immediately about your product or service. That means you can get valuable feedback much faster, and allow you to address any potential questions or issues. Not only will this make your business more flexible and adaptable, but your customer satisfaction is likely to improve.

Although creating a conversation with your consumers online is important, engaging with them face-to-face adds a whole other dimension of loyalty. With a marketing event you can get your message out much faster, more effectively, and to an audience who is more eager to hear it.

]]>950Live and In-Person: What Every Company Should Know About Event Productionhttps://www.talkingtreecreative.com/blog/event-production/live-and-in-person-what-every-company-should-know-about-event-production/
Wed, 06 Jun 2018 15:30:30 +0000http://live-talking-tree-creative.pantheonsite.io/?p=1711HOW TO GET MY MESSAGE ACROSS Any business, large or small, faces the challenge of communicating effectively with its current and prospective customers, suppliers, employees and partners. While traditional mass-mailing campaigns and broadcast advertising have in large part given way to online marketing, there is still no replacement for face to face, in-person interaction. The value of first-hand interactions is the driving force behind trade shows, sales meetings, community outreach, industry conventions and so on.... Read More

HOW TO GET MY MESSAGE ACROSS

Any business, large or small, faces the challenge of communicating effectively with its current and prospective customers, suppliers, employees and partners. While traditional mass-mailing campaigns and broadcast advertising have in large part given way to online marketing, there is still no replacement for face to face, in-person interaction. The value of first-hand interactions is the driving force behind trade shows, sales meetings, community outreach, industry conventions and so on.

These live events can be as lavish as the Oscars or as simple as a picnic fundraiser – the point is to connect and engage with people so that they internalize your company’s message. The chance for people outside a company to meet and interact with the people who manage its business, fuel its ideas and products, bring those products to the marketplace and manage customer needs, presents a tremendous opportunity to make an emotional connection and a lasting impression.

The benefits of interaction with a live audience seem self-evident – everyone knows that these events are worthwhile, that’s why they’re still so popular. Why, then, do so many fall short of the expectations of the companies who produce them? Ah, that’s the big question. As in everything worth doing well, there’s a trick to it. Well, several tricks actually.

PLAN EFFECTIVELY

To envision, plan and execute a live event with the best possible outcome is a business unto itself, but that doesn’t mean a corporate event planner or delegated executive has to be in the dark about the process. In this series, we’d like to shed some light on the ins and outs of live event production so that any business can approach the process with the tools and knowledge needed to get the most out of their investment. We’ll cover planning and development, creative presentation, new technologies, vendor control, deliverables and deadlines and a host of subjects that can empower your company to minimize waste, mitigate compromise and assert and maintain control over a very complex, but very profitable process.

GET IN THE KNOW WITH TALKINGTREE CREATIVE!

Ready to share your story? TalkingTree Creative is your premier guide to brand strategy, event planning, video production, virtual reality, and live entertainment. With help from our production experts, you can elevate your message and convert your audience into fans by transforming your next event into a fully engaging, memorable experience. We are located in the Baltimore-Washington Metro area, and we accommodate the needs of businesses and organizations world-wide! Get in touch with us today at 240-252-1200 or 202-684-2225 and let’s start a conversation. Find out what we’re up to on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest.

]]>1711The Basics of Video Post-Production Workhttps://www.talkingtreecreative.com/blog/video-production/the-basics-of-video-post-production-work/
Fri, 11 May 2018 15:26:35 +0000http://live-talking-tree-creative.pantheonsite.io/?p=1566Once a video project has been planned and storyboarded, and all of the necessary footage has been shot, it’s up to the production company to begin the work of transforming the raw materials into a polished final product that’s ready for viewing by your target audience. We do this through the process of post-production. Post-production is one of the most important steps of making a video, and a great production company like TalkingTree Creative can... Read More

The post-production stage of a video project is where everything comes together to create the final product that your target audience will end up seeing!

Once a video project has been planned and storyboarded, and all of the necessary footage has been shot, it’s up to the production company to begin the work of transforming the raw materials into a polished final product that’s ready for viewing by your target audience. We do this through the process of post-production. Post-production is one of the most important steps of making a video, and a great production company like TalkingTree Creative can turn your ideas and footage into a compelling, engaging product! What exactly goes into post-production work for a video? Here are some of the things we do.

Editing

After filming is over, the editing process begins. We take a close look at the hours of raw footage available and choose the best takes for usage in the final video. Once we’ve picked these, we then cut the film together in accordance with the script and storyboard to allow your core message to come through. During editing, some companies may request additions or revisions – make sure you reach an agreement with your production company beforehand to avoid unnecessary delays.

Adding Special Effects

Special effects can liven up just about any video and can be an important part of your video’s post-production process. Adding in graphics or animation takes place concurrently with the editing process and the production company takes care to blend these special effects in with the script and storyboard of the video project.

Mixing the Soundtrack

The music soundtrack of a video is one of its most underrated aspects and can make or break a project depending on how it’s done. In fact, here at TalkingTree, we consider the audio to make up more than half of a production! Background music needs to blend in well with the visual portion of the project – it needs to match the tone of the video, match the pace of the edits, and help get your core message across to your target audience. You may or may not wish to have recognizable music in your video, but keep in mind that you may have to pay licensing fees to use certain tracks in your video.

Recording the Voiceover

A voiceover isn’t strictly necessary for all productions, but it can help you clarify your core message and add detail to your video. You’ll want to choose a good voiceover artist for your video who has a voice that will appeal to your target audience. When recording the voiceover, the production company will often record several takes – this allows for flexibility in matching the voiceover to the video edit and helps make the production as a whole feel more cohesive.

GET ENGAGING VIDEO PRODUCTIONS WITH THE HELP OF TALKINGTREE CREATIVE!

Ready to share your story? TalkingTree Creative is your premier guide to brand strategy, event planning, video production, virtual reality, and live entertainment. With help from our production experts, you can elevate your message and convert your audience into fans by transforming your next event into a fully engaging, memorable experience. We are located in the Baltimore-Washington Metro area, and we accommodate the needs of businesses and organizations world-wide! Get in touch with us today at 240-252-1200 or 202-684-2225 and let’s start a conversation. Find out what we’re up to on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest.

]]>1566Where Should You Promote Your New Corporate Video?https://www.talkingtreecreative.com/blog/video-marketing-2/where-should-you-promote-your-new-corporate-video/
Fri, 04 May 2018 13:55:22 +0000http://live-talking-tree-creative.pantheonsite.io/?p=1563Nothing quite beats the feeling of seeing all of your planning and hard work pay off in the form of a freshly completed video production. Once all of the post-production work is done and you have the final product in your hands, it’s time to put that content to use in your marketing efforts. You need to have an effective strategy in place to get your video in front of your target audience – and... Read More

Once you’ve completed work on your new production, it’s time to promote your video online!

Nothing quite beats the feeling of seeing all of your planning and hard work pay off in the form of a freshly completed video production. Once all of the post-production work is done and you have the final product in your hands, it’s time to put that content to use in your marketing efforts. You need to have an effective strategy in place to get your video in front of your target audience – and online video marketing is very different from other forms such as written content. So where exactly should you promote your new video? Here are a few strategies to think about.

Social Media Channels

Social media sites have quickly become the number one place people consume and share content on the internet. Most online marketing strategies will begin with social, but it is even more important for video marketing – particularly because of the drive towards more visual forms of content consumption. Facebook’s algorithms favor video content more than text-based in both organic and paid posts, and YouTube is one of the more dominant platforms on the web today, with viewers consuming an estimated 1 billion hours of video per day!

Website

Your content is representative of your brand, so your own website is a great place to feature your fresh new video content. Consider placing the video on your front page to greet your visitors, or creating a new blog post that features the video and perhaps goes a little more in-depth with your content. Some brands will even use their new video as a banner that plays in the background of the front page – this is very visually appealing and can drive interest in your brand.

Email Marketing

Don’t neglect the power of email when it comes to marketing your brand – people check their email about fifteen times every day on average. It’s one sure way to reach your existing customers and clients and get them to engage even further with your brand. Feature your video in an email blast to your contact base – if even a few of them forward it to their friends or colleagues, it could make the campaign worth it!

GET ENGAGING VIDEO PRODUCTIONS WITH THE HELP OF TALKINGTREE CREATIVE!

Ready to share your story? TalkingTree Creative is your premier guide to brand strategy, event planning, video production, virtual reality, and live entertainment. With help from our production experts, you can elevate your message and convert your audience into fans by transforming your next event into a fully engaging, memorable experience. We are located in the Baltimore-Washington Metro area, and we accommodate the needs of businesses and organizations world-wide! Get in touch with us today at 240-252-1200 or 202-684-2225 and let’s start a conversation. Find out what we’re up to on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest.

]]>1563The Process of Starting a New Video Productionhttps://www.talkingtreecreative.com/blog/video-production/the-process-of-starting-a-new-video-production/
Fri, 27 Apr 2018 13:42:10 +0000http://live-talking-tree-creative.pantheonsite.io/?p=1560For brands looking to make an impact and reach their customers these days, video is one of the most essential tools available. But to get the most out of a video marketing campaign, you need to plan extensively for each step of the production process from start to finish. Most marketers have trouble when it comes to the start of a new video production – they’re not quite sure where exactly to begin. Producing a... Read More

For brands looking to make an impact and reach their customers these days, video is one of the most essential tools available. But to get the most out of a video marketing campaign, you need to plan extensively for each step of the production process from start to finish. Most marketers have trouble when it comes to the start of a new video production – they’re not quite sure where exactly to begin. Producing a video, however, is quite similar to other marketing efforts, though there are a few key differences. Here’s how to get started with a new video production.

Defining Your Goals

Just as with all forms of content, before you start to create a new video production, you need to decide what the ultimate end goals are for the project. Some projects are meant to tell a story about the brand, others to raise brand awareness – and still others are meant to serve some internal purpose. You’ll want to create SMART goals – specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound – by thinking about any issues that your brand needs to address with your new video production. And you’ll also need to determine how to measure whether your production is achieving those goals or coming up short.

Determining Your Target Audience

Knowing your target audience is a key factor in the success or failure of any marketing effort, and it’s no different with video production. If you have a database of buyer personas available, use these to inform your decision-making when it comes to your messaging and creative work. Demographics are only partially useful here – they’re necessary, but not sufficient. Strive for a more in-depth insight into your target audience – motivations, common problems they’re facing and how your brand can help – these insights can really bring out the best in your final production if you utilize them well.

Deciding Your Core Message

Armed with extensive knowledge of your target audience and the goals of your new video production, you can now determine the core message of your video. This message, in essence, is the main idea that you need your audience to remember after viewing your video. You may need to have multiple messages in your video, but limit these to only a few – too many messages can confuse and frustrate your audience and ultimately be counterproductive to your marketing efforts.

GET ENGAGING VIDEO PRODUCTIONS WITH THE HELP OF TALKINGTREE CREATIVE!

Ready to share your story? TalkingTree Creative is your premier guide to brand strategy, event planning, video production, virtual reality, and live entertainment. With help from our production experts, you can elevate your message and convert your audience into fans by transforming your next event into a fully engaging, memorable experience. We are located in the Baltimore-Washington Metro area, and we accommodate the needs of businesses and organizations world-wide! Get in touch with us today at 240-252-1200 or 202-684-2225 and let’s start a conversation. Find out what we’re up to on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest.